Broad Street Believers

Typically light Tuesday night slate around the country, as we await the kickoffs of the final conference schedules, but there are four games that caught my eye, for various reasons tonight.

Pittsburgh at Georgetown
Everyone was raving about Pitt after cruising through a cupcake non-conference slate, but they have opened Big East play with a home loss to Cincinnati and another loss at Rutgers over the weekend.  Now, they go to DC to play a tough Georgetown team that is also seeking its first league win, after only managin 48 points in one-point loss at Marquette on Saturday in their Big East opener.  This will probably be ugly, but important.

Alabama at Missouri
The 2013 SEC tipoff – the only conference game on the slate on the first night of conference play.  The non-conference season really illuminated what some may have feared about the SEC – it really is not very good.  In a 14-team league, there are really only three legitimately good teams, as questions marks surround teams like Tennessee, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and even Anthony Grant’s Crimson Tide, who travels to Missouri tonight to take on one of those three “legitimate” teams.  The Tigers will be welcoming ‘Bama to mark their first ever SEC game, hoping to write the first chapter in their first ever SEC championship.  ‘Bama did themselves no favors in the noncon and will really have to turn heads in conference play to put themselves back in the tournament discussion.  That head-turning could start tonight.

Illinois State at Missouri State
I still believe that Illinois State is the second-best team in a very good Valley this year.  However, the Redbirds are testing my resolve, as they have opened conference play with three straight losses, including two at home – most recently a 10-point home loss to UNI.  Missouri State is in pretty much the opposite position – having had a dreadfully forgettable non-conference season that has made their excellent conference start shocking.  The Bears opened Valley play with an 11-point win over S.Illinois, followed by a tough OT loss at Evansville and then a 12-point road win at Drake on Saturday.  If the Bears can take care of business tonight at home, we may have to start looking differently at our Valley projections.

Northeastern at Drexel
Without VCU in the conference any more, the Drexel Dragons were supposed to run away and hide with the CAA this year.  Throw in the total rebuilding years at Old Dominion and Hofstra, a minor rebuild at George Mason, and the return of most of a Dragon team that won 29 games last year and the only question was supposed to be whether or not they would even lose a game in this league.  Well, they did – at home – to Towson.  The culmination of a stomach-punchingly disappointing non-conference slate was the home loss to lowly Towson on Saturday.  Now, they either have to continue their freefall or figure out a way to fix what is wrong – and fast.  Tonight would be a good time to start, as the Dragons host the conference’s other (aside from those Towson Tigers) 2-0 team, Northeastern.  The Huskies had a surprisingly solid noncon and opened conference play with a huge road upset of George Mason.  They followed that up with a home win over UNC-Wilmington on Saturday and seem poised and ready to come to Philly for a shot at the preseason favorites.

With the conference season right around the corner, it is time to take a look at how these conference races are going to shape up. 

And, it is also time to check in on a new BSB project we have debuted this year.  BSB’s main college basketball contributors – Doogan, Gross, and Bry – have roped in a fellow hoops junkie, Ryan Doc, to participate in our first ever CBB Team Draft.  Sparing the details for a future post, essentially what we did is the four of us drafted all 344 D-I teams (leaving out the two independents – CS-Bakersfield and New Orleans – and the late entry to D-I, Northern Kentucky) in typical ladder style.  The final scores will be decided by where each team finishes in their conference, which is why you see teams like Savannah State and Delaware State picked ahead of teams like Duke and Michigan State.

In this post, I will try and briefly run down the races in the eight highest-rated conferences with a eye towards our CBB Team Draft and how it looks to shape up.  Look for Parts Two through Four to complete the preview.

(Conferences listed in power ranking, based upon the league’s average KenPom ranking)

Big East

Overall
Amidst all this realignment and disbandment craze, the Big East continues to churn out some of the best basketball in the nation.  Personally, I think the Big Ten is actually a far better conference, but they are brought down by Nebraska and Penn State, while the Big East is bolstered by all fifteen teams being in the top 100, including three in the top 6.  This should be a great year at the top of the Big East, as teams Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, Notre Dame, Cincy, and G’town all look for real.

CBB Team Draft
RDoc went heavy on the Big East, as he took the first 5 BE teams off the board, finishing with 8 teams in this league, so he figures to get the 150-point prize for winning this league, though Bry’s only BE team, Pitt, might be a surprise.

• Savvy Picks – Bry’s nabbing of Pitt at #93 (the 6th BE team off the board) looks mighty good right now, as the Panthers are 10-1 and might have a chance to steal a big number from this conference.  Providence has won 6 in a row and making a push up the standings, which looks for Doogan, who took them at #256.  Of those first five that RDoc took, it looks like he’s getting the best value out of his 4th and 5th selections of Cincinnati (#39) and Georgetown (#74).
• Shaky Picks – This whole conference looks good, so it’s hard to say any pick was a “bad” pick, but RDoc’s picks of S.Florida (#210) and St. John’s (#234) look like they may have been reaches.
• Most Intriguing Battle – Marquette (Doogan – #120) and UConn (Gross – #126) were picked just 6 picks apart and each have a wide range of possible finishes.

Picks

1. Louisville – RDoc, #2
2. Syracuse – RDoc, #10
3. Notre Dame – RDoc, #31
4. Cincinnati – RDoc, #39
5. Georgetown – RDoc, #74
6. Pittsburgh – Bry, #93
7. Marquette – Doogan, #120
8. UConn – Gross, #126
9. South Florida – RDoc, #210
10. St. John’s – RDoc, #234
11. Providence – Doogan, #256
12. Villanova – Doogan, #281
13. Seton Hall – Gross, #299
14. Rutgers – RDoc, #306
15. DePaul – Gross, #342

Big Ten

Overall
Regardless of any power rankings or whatnot, there is not anything that can convince me right now that this is not the best conference in the nation.  Particularly with the emergence of 12-0 Illinois and a really solid Iowa team.  Granted, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and to some extent, Michigan State have disappointed so far, but do we doubt Bo Ryan or Tom Izzo?  I sure don’t.

CBB Team Draft
This conference is a war between Doogan and Gross, as they have 5 teams apiece in this brutal conference.  RDoc is sitting out the B10 this year, while Bry took the 8th and 10th B10 teams off the board.

• Savvy Picks – Doogan took Minnesota at #160, as the 6th B10 team off the board, and the Gophers look like a top-10 team nationally.  Bry made nice mid-conf pick, taking Illinois at #212, as the 8th B10 team off the board.  While they are an impressive 12-0, it should be interesting to see if the undervalued Illini can withstand the B10 schedule.  Also, Michigan looks like they might be the best team in the country, so for Gross to nab them at #54 is nice.
• Shaky Picks – Again, this whole conference is really good, so it is hard to find a “bad” pick, but Doogan may have reached on Northwestern at #216 and possibly even Michigan State at #33, as the 2nd B10 team picked.  Gross taking Wisconsin at #107 looks like it could be a reach, but it wasn’t even a top-100 pick, and they still have Bo Ryan.
• Most Intriguing Battle – Iowa, Illinois, and Northwestern were all picked within 5 picks of each other (#211, 212, 216, respectively), so it should be interesting to see where they end up.

Picks

1. Indiana – Doogan, #16
2. Michigan State – Doogan, #33
3. Michigan – Gross, $54
4. Ohio State – Gross, #59
5. Wisconsin – Gross, #107
6. Minnesota – Doogan, #160
7. Iowa – Gross, #211
8. Illinois – Bry, #212
9. Northwestern – Doogan, #216
10. Purdue – Bry, #269
11. Nebraska – Doogan, #305
12. Penn State – Gross, #339

ACC

Overall
It was supposed to be the year of the Wolfpack, but, instead, it looks like just another year of the Blue Devil.  The Dukies look like far and away the best team in this conference, especially with UNC struggling so mightily.  Va Tech was a huge surprise, but have faltered lately, while Maryland just keeps on rolling.  Is it possible that the Terps are the second-best team in this conference?  Yes, very possible.

CBB Team Draft
Gross has Duke, UNC, and Maryland, so he’s in good shape here.  RDoc has a fleet of 5 solid contenders.  Doogan has one team, but it is Miami – a solid contender.  Bry is a non-factor, as his only ACC team was his very last pick of the draft.

• Savvy Picks – The two most promising picks here both could have been seen as reaches at the time of selection, but Gross with Maryland at #86 and Doogan with Miami at #88 look like really smart selections right now.  RDoc also may have a steal with Virginia at #202.  While, knowing what we know now, it might not look so impressive, Gross does deserve a lot of credit for making Duke the first ACC team off the board – ahead of N.C. State, who was just about everyone’s pick to win the league.  Virginia Tech looked like a steal for Gross at #219 a week ago, but a lot has changed in a week.
• Shaky Picks – The group did pretty well analyzing the ACC finishes here, as most of the draft looks like it is going to form.  RDoc taking N.C. State (#23) and Gross taking UNC (#35) so high might come back to haunt them as there may have been better options in other conference for picks so early.  Another questionable pick might turn out to be Florida State at #122 for RDoc, as the Seminoles have not lived up to expectations. 
• Most Intriguing Battle – There are a lot of intriguing battles here, as there are a lot of team pairs picked closely together – the aforementioned Duke-N.C.State battle should be interesting, as they were picked back-to-back (#22 and 23).  Maryland and Miami were two picks apart (#86 and 88), and while not incredibly close to each other, the battle to avoid last-place in this conference between Gross’s Wake Forest (#318) and Bry’s Boston College (#341) could have major point implications.

Picks

1. Duke – Gross, #22
2. N.C. State – RDoc, #23
3. North Carolina – Gross, #35
4. Maryland – Gross, #86
5. Miami – Doogan, #88
6. Florida State – RDoc, #122
7. Virginia – RDoc, #202
8. Virginia Tech – Gross, #219
9. Clemson – RDoc, #255
10. Georgia Tech – RDoc, #266
11. Wake Forest – Gross, #318
12. Boston College – Bry, #341

Mountain West

Overall
If you are surprised that the top 6 conferences are not the “Power-6,” then you are not paying attention.  I will forgive you, though, if you are surprised at just how high the Mountain West is ranked this year.  A perennially potent league is having one of its best seasons ever.  The league is 71-18 in the non-conference, including four teams at 9-1 or better.  The league has beaten it’s Pac-12 “big sisters” Colorado, UCLA, and USC and UW twice.  There are also conference wins over Iowa State, UConn, George Mason, Illinois State, and Creighton – all either on neutral courts or true road venues.  There is not a single cupcake in this league, and the top three are as good as any conference’s top 3, except maybe the Big East and Big Ten.

CBB Team Draft
Not surprising in any way is the fact that Bry is all over the MWC, having taken 5 of the 9 teams in this league.  Doogan and RDoc each have two, and Gross is sitting this one out.

• Savvy Picks – While Bry has some nice-looking picks among his FIVE in this league (Boise State at #229, Colorado State at #157), RDoc’s pick of Wyoming at #250 is in the conversation for best pick of the entire draft, as things stand right now.  The Cowboys are 10-0 and looking like a legitimate threat to finish in the top half, if not crack the Big Three.  That is a hell of a pick.
• Shaky Picks – While RDoc had clearly the best pick of the league, he probably also has the worst – as things stand now – with Nevada at #183.  The funny thing is that if he just switched those two picks, he would still look savvy, so just taking the total package of Wyoming and Nevada at #183 and #250, it was a nice haul.  When you pick a team last in a conference, it is a little optimistic to think that they might give you good value, but Fresno State is clearly the worst team in the M-West right now, so Bry probably didn’t need to use pick #308 to take a last-place team, even if he does love this league a little too much.
• Most Intriguing Battle – It is hard to look at battles here, since Bry has more than half of the league, but it should be real interesting to see where his picks of Colorado State (#157) and Boise State (#229) fall among Doogan’s Air Force (#249) and RDoc’s Wyoming (#250), who were picked later.

Picks

1. UNLV – Doogan, #49
2. San Diego State – Bry, #76
3. New Mexico – Bry, #92
4. Colorado State – Bry, #157
5. Nevada – RDoc, #183
6. Boise State – Bry, #229
7. Air Force – Doogan, #249
8. Wyoming – RDoc, #250
9. Fresno State – Bry, #308

 Pac-12

Overall
The Pac-12 is still trying to rebuild its tainted reputation after two of the worst seasons in major conference history.  And, the disintegration of UCLA is not helping.  What is helping, however, is that Sean Miller seems to have the rebuilding process at Arizona way ahead of schedule, and the ‘Cats look like a clear Top-10 team in the nation – which, as it looks now – should be enough to run away and hide with the Pac-12 title.

CBB Team Draft
There have definitely been some interesting and surprising happenings in the non-conference for the Pac-12, which has turned this draft upside down.  Bry has 5 Pac-12 teams, with a couple nice picks making up for his blunder at the top.  Gross has 3 teams here, including the runaway favorite, UA.  Doogan and RDoc each have 2 teams, with Doogan’s having much more potential to bring some points than RDoc’s mid- and late-round picks.

• Savvy Picks – Doogan grabbing Oregon at #177 might be one of the most promising picks of the entire draft, as things look now.  While it is no big stretch to think that the first team off the board is the favorite, the rise of Arizona and the demise of UCLA makes Gross taking Arizona at #11 look really nice right about now.
• Shaky Picks – One of the shakier picks of the entire draft was Gross reaching for USC at #91.  That being said, they have been better as of late, so it may not be quite the disaster it appeared a couple of weeks ago.  RDoc’s #215 pick of Washington looks pretty shaky, as well, but the Huskies have made a habit out of going through terrible non-conference seasons and turning it on in conference play.
• Most Intriguing Battle – Bry took California at #100 and Colorado at #132, and the way it looks, those two teams could engage in an interesting two-on-two battle against a pair of Doogan picks – Stanford (#80) and Oregon (#177) for some of those upper-middle positions in the Pac-12 standings.

Picks

1. Arizona – Gross, #11
2. UCLA – Bry, #21
3. Stanford – Doogan, #80
4. USC – Gross, #91
5. California – Bry, #100
6. Colorado – Bry, #132
7. Oregon – Doogan, #177
8. Washington – RDoc, #215
9. Oregon State – Bry, #228
10. Washington State – Bry, #277
11. Arizona State – Gross, #315
12. Utah – RDoc, #343

Big XII

Overall
The sun in the morning, that geyser in Yellowstone, and Bill Self’s team winning the Big XII – am I leaving anything out here?  Like clockwork, the Jayhawks are poised to roll through the Big XII yet again, even though Jeff Withey might be their best player.  It is amazing.  KU is good – don’t get me wrong – but they are also aided this year by the potential trainwrecks heading towards Austin, Waco, and Morgantown, as Texas, Baylor, and West Virginia have been among the three most disappointing teams in the country so far. 

CBB Team Draft
Gross took 60% of the Big XII, including the favored Jayhawks, so he is likely to dominate the bounty of points here.  Doogan is pinning his Big XII to K-State, RDoc is riding Texas, and Bry will roll with West Virginia (and, the irrelevant Texas Tech).

• Savvy Picks – The best pick of this conference appears to be Gross’s nabbing of Iowa State at #187, but he also got more value than it first appeared with Oklahoma State when he stepped up to take them at #78, with the more hyped UT, K-State, and WVU still on the board.  Also – and this might sound strange – RDoc’s pick of Texas might actually turn out to be decent value at #159…or it could be a total strikeout, but it was not a bad gamble to take in the mid-rounds.  Before last night’s loss to Stephen F. Austin, it looked like Gross’s Oklahoma pick (#267) was one of great value.  It is still nice, but that loss is scary.
• Shaky Picks – Texas and West Virginia are both in dissarray, but at least they did not go all that early in this draft.  Baylor did.  With the #46 pick, Gross cannot be happy with the shakiness of that team in Waco.  But, they do have talent, so anything is possible.  Oh, and let us not forget that, while #173 may not be “early,” the Mountaineers of West Virginia are still sitting in last-place right now for Bry, which could make that a pretty bad pick.
• Most Intriguing Battle – Doogan grabbing Kansas State at #112 could be one of huge value, if they can finish ahead of either of Gross’s Baylor (#46) or Oklahoma State (#78) picks.

Picks

1. Kansas – Gross, #14
2. Baylor – Gross, #46
3. Oklahoma State – Gross, #78
4. Kansas State – Doogan, #112
5. Texas – RDoc, #159
6. West Virginia – Bry, #173
7. Iowa State – Gross, #187
8. Oklahoma – Gross, #267
9. TCU – Gross, #307
10. Texas Tech – Bry, #332

 SEC

Overall
Through 7 games and about 34 minutes, the Florida Gators looked like they might not only be the best team in the SEC, but quite possibly the best team in the country.  Then the wheels fell off at the McHale Center and they gave that game away to Arizona.  It was still a great showing for a team that should enter conference play as the clear favorite in the SEC.  Our defending champs have a slew of talent but…wait for it…they’re all freshmen, so we have no idea when – if ever – they will come around.  The question is will teams like Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, or Alabama make a push toward the top of this conference.  And, the other question worth asking:  is the bottom of this league really that bad?  It just might be…

CBB Team Draft
The SEC is pretty spread out around our four competitors.  Bry is the only one with fewer than 3 SEC teams, but his two were the 2nd and 3rd teams off the board, so he will be in play.  Doogan took the 1st and 4th teams off the board (plus the last), so he should also be in play here.  RDoc and Gross went back and forth for teams 5 through 13, with Gross taking 5 teams and RDoc taking 4. 

• Savvy Picks – Ole Miss is another pick on the short list for best of the entire draft, as the Rebels like like true contenders for a top 2 or 3 finish in this 14-team league, and RDoc grabbed them all the way down at #162.  He also may have hit on Alabama at #119, as they could finish top 4, if things work out as planned.  RDoc continued to shine in this league with his later picks of Texas A&M (#231) and, especially, LSU (#271).  Gross may have find a real diamond in the rough with Auburn all the way down at the ridiculously low #326.  The Tigers may be a middle-of-the-pack team here.
• Shaky Picks – It is still hard to get a read of Doogan’s Tennessee (#72) and Gross’s Arkansas (#139) picks.  But, I think we can say that Gross’s pick of Georgia at #203 has disaster potential, as the Bulldogs are currently 3-7 and it hasn’t exactly been against the best competition.  Gross’s Vanderbilt at #235 also looks a bit high.  And, then there is the #1 overall pick in the draft.  Doogan went with the defending champs of Kentucky at #1, thinking – quite legitimately – that the ‘Cats should be the clear favorites to win a large (14 teams) league, which would garner the huge 140-point bounty.  But, UK is reeling and Florida is rolling, so, while the ‘Cats should still bring a decent haul, it is looking less and less likely that they will return value commensurate with their #1 overall draft spot.
• Most Intriguing Battle – This conference has several tiers and probably the most interesting of these tiers is going to be a battle royale between Gross and RDoc for those mid-to-lower SEC positions.  Gross is armed with South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas, and possibly Georgia if they turn it around fighting with RDoc’s Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU.  It could go a long way towards how their overall drafts turn out.

Picks

1. Kentucky – Doogan, #1
2. Florida – Bry, #20
3. Missouri – Bry, #44
4. Tennessee – Doogan, #72
5. Alabama – RDoc, #119
6. Arkansas – Gross, #139
7. Ole Miss – RDoc, #162
8. Georgia – Gross, #203
9. Texas A&M – RDoc, #231
10. Vanderbilt – Gross, #235
11. LSU – RDoc, #271
12. South Carolina – Gross, #291
13. Auburn – Gross, #326
14. Mississippi State – Doogan, #344

 Atlantic 10

Overall
While, as a Temple fan, the time for bemoaning our lot in this whole conference realignment ordeal will come, I would like to focus on the here and now and keep reminding myself that – if only for one season – the Owls are smack-dab in the middle of an endlessly fascinating A-10.  Just looking at the KenPom rankings, after VCU (who is currently in 8th place, mind you) at 10, there are ELEVEN A-10 teams ranked between 44 and 103.  And, GW sits right on the outside of that at 139.  That is incredible!  And, this conference season is going to be like none we have ever seen in the A-10.  Buckle up, kids!

CBB Team Draft
The largest single point total in the whole competition (160) will be given to the one who picked the champion in the A-10.  But, the incredible depth and parity of the league kept everyone away for almost 4 full rounds, until RDoc grabbed two teams rather quickly.  Another two rounds went by before a flurry of three teams (2 for Bry and 1 for Doogan) came off the board in a quick 8-pick span.  And, the fear of the unknown kept people away for longer until Gross finally entered the fray at #62.  In the end, the league was very balanced – Bry had 5 teams; Doogan and Gross had 4 apiece; RDoc had 3 (including the first two off the board) – so, unsurprisingly, this league is going to be wide open all year.

• Savvy Picks – With VCU emerging as the likely favorite for the largest bounty of them all, it stands to reason that Bry taking them at #28 is going to get incredible value for his 7th-round pick.  Much later, Bry grabbed Charlotte at #213 and they have looked real good against a bad non-conference schedule, so that has some real upside.  However, other than the VCU 160-point potential, the best pick of this conference – as things look now – probably has to be either Doogan’s pick of Dayton at #152 or, maybe more impressive, Gross’s pick 27 spots later of LaSalle.  And, then there are the late sleeper possibilities for all four of the drafters:  Bry (St. Bonaventure at #244), Doogan (GW at #272), Gross (Rhode Island at #331), and RDoc (Duquesne at #338).  Obviously, it is a bit of a zero-sum game with these bottom teams, as they cannot all show great value, but with these late picks and the way these four teams have played, it is not out of the question that any of them could return some great value.
• Shaky Picks – You can’t fault RDoc for this thought process in chasing the 160-point pot.  And, there is no reason to think that he won’t still get it, but St. Louis looks like they might have been a little overrated without Majerus, so they may not return the value of the #15 overall pick.  Gross’s entrance into the A-10 at #62 with UMass looks like a bit of a reach, as the Minutemen have been shaky and are in danger of a not even breaking the top 10 in the league – not great value for a 16th-round pick.  Bry may have been caught up in some hard-core bias in reaching for Temple at #36, as it is still up in the air where they will finish.  And, while it is hard to really downgrade any team picked at #296, but Doogan taking Fordham might come back to haunt him if, for nothing else, he left URI and Duquesne still on the table, who both have looked a little better than the Rams in the non-conference.  But, again, with 295 teams off the table, it is nothing more than missed opportunity.
• Most Intriguing Battle – This whole conference is an intriguing battle.  I know I talked about the clumping of the 11 teams within 60 spots on KenPom’s rankings, but it is even more incredible when you look closer at this four-team cluster:  Temple (B-66), Dayton (D-69), LaSalle (G-70), Richmond (B-71).  Four teams within 6 spots of each other, including three in a row – all the same conference.  And, those four teams are split between 3 different drafters.  That is nuts!

Picks

1.  St. Louis – RDoc, #15
2. Butler – RDoc, #18
3. VCU – Bry, #28
4. St. Joe’s – Doogan, #32
5. Temple – Bry, #36
6. UMass – Gross, #62
7. Xavier – Gross, #118
8. Richmond – Bry, #125
9. Dayton – Doogan, #152
10. LaSalle – Gross, #179
11. Charlotte – Bry, #213
12. St. Bonaventure – Bry, #244
13. George Washington – Gross, #272
14. Fordham – Doogan, #296
15. Rhode Island – Gross, #331
16. Duquesne – RDoc, #338

(NOTE: Learning about the events in Newtown, CT, today made this post difficult to post, actually, but I was nearly finished when I heard of the shooting.  I do not mean to be overdramatic – I tend to fall on the other end of the “drama” spectrum – but this tragedy, for whatever reason, has hit me deeply.  As a writer, I haven’t the words to express how I feel about the senseless act of murdering children, and, as a father, I haven’t the strength to deal with the paralyzing fear it has invoked in me, so I will awkwardly return to a safe place in basketball…)

The slowest week of the college basketball season is about to end, with fewer than 100 games all week.  Well, we are gutting through it, and now it is about to start to slowly picking up until the mayhem that is the start of conference play around the New Year.  This weekend’s slate is decent with a couple marquee matchups to watch for and a whole slew of others with varying levels of intrigue.  Here are some of the highlights and things to look for this weekend:

National Game of the Weekend

#5 Florida at #8 Arizona (Saturday, 10:00)
Not just the Game of the Week, but quite possibly the game of the non-conference season!  Two legitimate Final Four contenders face off in the desert.  Sean Miller has an arsenal of freshmen big men to lean on, as well as the grizzled veteran Solomon Hill, the wise old sophomore Nick Johnson, and the senior Xavier transfer Mark Lyons to lean on.  Arizona is back – and it did not take nearly as long as some people thought it would.  As for Billy Donovan’s squad – it is not crazy to think that this UF’s best team since the back-to-back titles teams of nearly a decade ago.  They are strong inside (Patric Young and Erik Murphy) and outside (Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario), but most importantly, they are incredibly tough and capable on the defensive end.  This might be the best defensive team in the country.  This is going to be a great nightcap to a long day of hoops.

Mid-Major Game of the Weekend

Akron at Detroit (Saturday, noon)
There actually are not a whole lot of mid-on-mid battles this weekend, but this one should give us what we want.  The Zips have a strong backcourt duo of Alex Abreu and Brian Walsh, a couple of solid swingmen in Chauncey Gilliam and Quincy Diggs, all supporting the enigmatic personality of 7’1″ manchild Zeke Marshall.  Akron may be, yet again, the most overlooked mid-major around, but any road game is tough in this business, especially when that road takes you to the home of Ray McCallum, Jr.  McCallum, who notoriously passed on offers from several Big Ten schools, including Michigan State, is clearly a high-major talent playing at a mid-major level.  Unfortunately for the Titans, they have not exactly surrounded Ray Ray with a strong supporting cast.  But, when you have a guy that is on another level, you are always tough.

The Best of the Undercard

If you are waiting for the Florida-Zona main course late Saturday night, you will have plenty to whet your palate throughout the day. 

Butler vs. #1 Indiana (Saturday, 2:00)
The first game of a terrific “Battle for Indiana” double-header.  The Hoosiers have looked every bit the #1 team in the country so far, but has the potential to be their toughest test yet, as the Bulldogs are stacked with outside shooters – particularly the dead-eyed Rotnei Clarke – and are unafraid of anyone in the country.  And, with a guy like Brad Stevens at the helm, you know Butler will be ready in every capacity.

#6 Louisville at Memphis (Saturday, 2:30)
If you believe everything you hear or read, you will think that Memphis has been one of the nation’s biggest disappoinments.  But, in reality, they only have 2 losses – both in Atlantis to very quality teams (VCU and Minnesota).  They also left the island with a win over a good UNI team.  Then, they returned home to pound Ohio U – a Sweet 16 team a year ago.  But, this game could go a long way to either vindicating or discrediting the disappoinment tag affixed on Memphis so far.

Belmont at #9 Kansas (Saturday, 7:00)
One of the most impressive teams this year that no one is talking about has been Belmont.  They have been blitzing teams, including a 15-point win over a really good Middle Tennessee St. team last night.  It is hard to say how anyone will react to going into The Fogg (just ask Colorado-yikes), but if they can handle the environment, do not be surprised if they hang with the Jayhawks.

#3 Michigan at West Virginia (Saturday, 8:00)
Coach Beilein returns home.  I wonder if Kevin Pittsnogle will be in the building.  The Mountaineers have not exactly played the way the Huggy Bear expects, but it is still a tough place to play, even for a Final Four-caliber team like Michigan and Doogan’s #1 point guard in the nation, Trey Burke.

Kansas State at #14 Gonzaga (Saturday, 9:00)
I still believe that this is the best Gonzaga team in school history.  But, after that home loss to Illinois last weekend, this game is suddenly pretty important to regain some traction.  And, this Wildcat team, with their athleticism and fire – even with Coach Martin – is a scary opponent for anyone right now.

Dessert

#16 Creighton at California (Saturday, 11:00)
Another late-night treat awaits us in Berkeley, as the Golden Bears play host to Doug McDermott and the Creighton Blue Jays.  Cal is not an easy place to win any year, but with a backcourt of Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs, Mike Montgomery’s team is typically tough this year.

Upset Alerts

There are a few other ranked teams that have may want to watch out this weekend, for instance (in chronological order):

UNC-Asheville at #7 Ohio State (Saturday, noon)
The Buckeyes look like one of the best teams in the country, and UNC-Asheville is rebuilding, but the Bulldogs are still relatively potent, with a strong new crop of future All-Big Southers and a highly-experienced coach in Eddie Biedenbach, who is unafraid of games like this.  I would not be surprised if OSU wins by 40 or 4.

Western Carolina at #15 Georgetown (Saturday, noon)
Any time you have serious trouble scoring the ball, you are prone to being upset.  And, that has certainly been the case for the Hoyas thus far.  While WCU is only 4-6 in the early going, they have had played tough through a difficult non-conference slate, including just recently giving Illinois a run for their money in Champaign.

East Carolina at #21 North Carolina (Saturday, noon)
The Pirates of ECU have been relatively untested so far this year, which means that they have stayed completely under the radar, but they do have Miguel Paul, Maurice Kemp, and URI transfer Akeem Richmond, who can all light it up.  If the Heels are who we think they should be, they should handle ECU, but if they are who they have shown to be so far, they could definitely struggle.

#11 Cincinnati at Marshall (Saturday, 2:00)
Both teams were supposed to be good to great, but probably not elite coming into the season.  But, in the early going, neither of them would fall under that category.  You would be hard-pressed to make a case for Marshall being “good,” let alone “great.”  While Cincy, on the other hand, has put themselves in the “elite” discussion with their early season play.  Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright are as good a backcourt as you will find, and Cincy is – as always – tough and physical on the defensive end.  Marshall has some talent, though, and could pose a threat at home, if they ever find what they are missing.

Purdue vs. #22 Notre Dame (Saturday, 4:30) 
I like Mike Brey’s Irish team this year, and Purdue is in a bit of a rebuilding stage after losing so much talent to the Association recently, but the Boilers still have Terone Johnson and D.J. Byrd to go along with a pretty stellar freshman class, so this is dangerous for ND.

New Mexico State at #17 New Mexico (Saturday, 6:00)
In-state rivalries are always brutal, but this one can be especially so.  The Lobos are loaded this year, but the Aggies are no slouches either, and anything can happen in these battles.  Watch for State’s super-soph Daniel Mullings to try and carry his team to an upset here in The Pit.

Canisius at #4 Syracuse (Saturday, 7:00)
Syracuse looks really, really good.  It is hard to imagine Canisius giving them a real game in the Carrier Dome, but, then again, it was hard to imagine Canisius doing anything they’ve been doing this year.  They have two incredible scorers in Harold Washington and URI transfer Billy Baron (a dead-eye shooter who looks like a “coach’s son” because, well, he is one). 

Norfolk State at #25 N.C. State (Saturday, 7:00)
N.C. State has been a pretty big disappoinment so far this year, but it is still so early, and maybe it is better that they do not go into ACC play with the target on their backs.  Let the Dukies take the title of “favorite” for once.  As for Norfolk, it’s not nearly the same team that upset Mizzou last year, as Kyle O’Quinn has left for the NBA, but they have surprised early and might be a dark horse in the MEAC race.  An upset here, though, would say a whole lot more about what N.C. State is not than about what Norfolk is.

San Diego at #18 San Diego State (Saturday, 10:00)
Crosstown rivalries are always tricky.  SDSU has talent to spare in this one, as USD is not a great team.  But, again, crosstown rivalries are tricky.

Eastern Kentucky at #10 Illinois (Sunday, 6:00)
Well, something’s gotta give, right?  Something’s gotta give in this battle of undefeateds.  Yep, that’s right, Illinois is undefeated – you hadn’t heard?  Well, it is true.  And, now they get the ultimate test, as the bigshot EKU comes to town, sporting their own 9-0 record.  Something’s gotta give…